In the first light of dawn, the morning mist somewhat veiled three women who were walking down a dewy path to the tomb where the body of Jesus had been lain. They each brought spices so they could anoint His body, but what their broken hearts really wanted was to see Him one more time. Mary Magdalene led the silent procession.
Mary's love for Jesus was deep. At a desperate point in her life, Jesus had intervened and completely turned what had been a miserable life into a flourishing life. She had been touched by Jesus firsthand, followed Him, and seen His greatness. Now she had watched Him be mocked and beaten. She stood helplessly and saw Him crucified and hanging on the cross, slowly dying. Then His body was taken down and laid in the tomb. As a huge stone was rolled in front of the tomb, so were all her hopes and dreams.
As the women approached the tomb, they realized they had forgotten the big stone. All that they wanted to do was suddenly blocked and too big to move on their own. Mark 16:3 says, "They asked each other, 'Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?'" It seemed impossible.
Have you ever felt like that? You wanted to accomplish something but there was a block in your way, and you didn't have the power to change it. The problem was too big for you and totally out of your control. Perhaps a stone of debt, or of sickness, or of divorce. Stones come in different shapes and sizes, but big or small, they try to block our way and trap us in fear, anxiety and worry. Stones try to stop us from accomplishing what we have in our heart.
The women arrived at the tomb and were shocked to see that the stone had been rolled away! What was too big for them had been removed! And even far better, they witnessed an empty tomb, an angel, and the amazing news that Jesus had risen from the dead just as He promised!
If there are stones in your way today, the good news is that Jesus still moves stones and is doing what no man can do! Jesus has a promise for any stone that blocks your way. If a stone of fear is blocking your way, just attach His promise to it: "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." He can deliver you, heal you and restore you! You have the same power that raised Jesus from the dead living inside of you. God will make a way where there is no way!